Finance Data Analytics & Automation Consultant
Assignment type: Six-month, full-time project assignment
Role Overview
Our client is seeking a hands-on Finance Data Analytics & Automation Consultant for a six-month, full-time Finance transformation assignment.
The consultant will partner with the Group Finance Director and Finance team to build a more automated, data-led, AI-enabled reporting environment.
The role requires Finance reporting expertise, advanced Excel, Power BI, workflow automation, and practical AI-enabled reporting skills.
The aim is to enhance current reporting and establish a scalable, intelligent Finance operating model.
This is not an IT-only, dashboard-only, or advisory-only role; the consultant must convert Finance logic into practical automated outputs.
Assignment Duration and Work Arrangement
- Duration: Initial six-month assignment
- Capacity: Full-time, five days per week
- Location: Onsite with the Finance team in Dubai - UAE
- Reporting line: Group Finance Director
Any extension will depend on project needs and performance.
Project Context
Finance is shifting toward automated, AI-enabled reporting and decision support to reduce manual effort and produce structured outputs, including:
- Post-close reporting and MIS analysis
- Structured financial and operational data
- Power BI dashboards with drill-downs
- Automated variance, trend analysis, and AI-assisted summaries
- Faster, more consistent Finance outputs
The immediate focus is to improve existing models and reporting while developing an automated reporting platform.
Key Responsibilities
Finance Process and Model Review
- Review Finance reporting processes, management packs, and models.
- Assess trial balance, GL, entity, cost-centre, budget, and reporting outputs.
- Find opportunities to simplify and automate reporting.
- Optimize Excel-based Finance models as needed.
Excel Modelling and Data Extraction
- Work with complex Excel financial models and reporting files.
- Improve model structure, formulas, links, and efficiency.
- Convert model outputs into clean datasets for automation, dashboards, and analysis.
- Support model simplification and documentation.
Finance Data Automation
- Build structured Finance datasets from trial balance, budget, entity, GL, cost-centre, and other inputs.
- Use Power Query to automate data cleansing, transformation, refresh, and validation.
- Build reconciliation checks and move reporting from manual Excel files to automated workflows.
Power BI and Reporting Development
- Develop Power BI data models and Finance dashboards.
- Build automated MIS, P&L, Balance Sheet, entity, facility, and consolidated reporting views.
- Enable drill-downs and create variance, trend, KPI, and executive dashboard views.
Workflow Automation and AI-Enabled Reporting
- Use Power Automate and related tools for reporting refresh, review, and distribution.
- Support AI-enabled Finance reporting, commentary, summaries, and exception analysis.
- Use approved AI tools where relevant, ensuring outputs are reviewable and Finance-approved.
Documentation and Handover
- Document data flows, model logic, assumptions, and refresh processes.
- Prepare handover notes, user guidance, training materials, and knowledge transfer.
- Ensure Finance can maintain the solutions after the assignment.
Required Skills And Experience
The consultant should have hands-on experience in:
- Finance modelling: Advanced Excel, model optimization, P&L, Balance Sheet, budget versus actuals, variance, trend, trial balance, and GL mapping.
- Analytics and automation: Power Query, Power BI, DAX, Power Automate, dashboards, reporting automation, reconciliation, and validation.
- AI workflows: AI-assisted reporting or business analysis using Claude, Copilot, ChatGPT, or similar tools.
Ideal Profile
Preferred experience: 6–10 years in Finance analytics, FP&A automation, business modelling, Power BI, Finance transformation, or reporting automation.
Relevant backgrounds may include:
- Big 4, consulting, business modelling, or Finance transformation
- Finance analytics, FP&A automation, or Power BI Finance reporting
- Excel modelling, BI automation, or corporate FP&A reporting analysis
The ideal candidate combines Finance knowledge with practical technical delivery.
Finance Knowledge Required
The consultant should understand:
- Trial balance, chart of accounts, GL mapping, and cost-centre reporting
- Entity, facility, P&L, Balance Sheet, budgeting, and forecasting structures
- Management packs, variance analysis, consolidation, and financial model structures
A pure IT developer, AI engineer, or dashboard designer without Finance knowledge would not be suitable.
Preferred Additional Exposure
Additional useful exposure includes:
- Oracle/ERP reporting, SQL, database fundamentals, or Python automation
- Multi-entity, financial statement, audit-support, healthcare, services, or multi-site reporting
- Senior Finance or CFO-level reporting requirements
Candidate Attributes
The consultant should be:
- Hands-on, practical, structured, and solution-oriented
- Strong in Finance logic, automation, Excel models, and reporting packs
- Comfortable working with senior Finance stakeholders under tight timelines
- Able to translate business requirements into automated outputs
- Disciplined in confidentiality, documentation, handover, and knowledge transfer
Finance Data Analytics & Automation Consultant in Dubai, United Arab Emirates